What It's Like Inside of a Panic Attack Tornado

It comes out of nowhere. You're on the sofa laughing as your teacup chihuahua is biting the ears of your 20-pound American bobtail cat.

How the next minute plays out is very different. Your stomach starts feeling queasy, similar to dropping hundreds of feet on a roller coaster ride. Your heart starts racing, palms are sweaty, and you're on the verge of regurgitation. You choose to ignore it because this can't be happening.

Denial seems as if it'll force it to disappear. It doesn't. You can't decide whether you're going to faint or if you might actually bedying. It certainly feels like death, so it must be. Should you call 911 or your mom? You choose mom. She is your safe person, your anchor. As you reach for the phone, your hands are tingling numb, you begin to dial.

You're really sweating now. Suffocating. Choking. The chest pain starts. You've reached the conclusion that every inch self control has vanished. It feels like you're drowning. No one can see you but they can all hear you. It's being in the driver's seat of a car you know is about to wreck but the seat belt is stuck. Suddenly, you're in the eye of this tornado panic attack with no escape.

You fully engage in the breathing techniques that should "help," but they don't. This particular state of being is comparable to being in a room full of people and having a social phobia. You wonder if you're going crazy because this certainly isn't normal.

After what feels like hours have passed, you hear the sound of your door unlocking. At last, you imagine a breath of fresh air may be approaching. She doesn't need to do anything, just be there. Hold you. Then somehow despite having just faced death, you realize it's over. Yet again. Yousurvivedthestorm. Now the waves are crawling gently to the shore dribbling cool, salty water onto the sand. Cylinders of light are skating peacefully across the water.

Now, paused in perplexity, you can't help but wonder when the next dark cloudwill appear.

Facts About Panic Attacks

-Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and are preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly, sometimes even during sleep.

-Panic attacks or panic disorder affects 6 million (2.7%) of the U.S. Population.

-Women are twice as likely to be affected as men.

-The disorder often occurs with other mental and physical disorders, including other anxiety disorders, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, or substance abuse.

-Symptoms of a panic attack include:

Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate

Sweating

Trembling or shaking

Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering

Feelings of choking

Chest pain or discomfort

Nausea or abdominal distress

Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint

Chills or heat sensations

Paresthesia (numbness or tingling sensations)

Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)